ISANA

Sidoryn, Tristana and Slade, Jo

Abstract:  Transition is an area which is critical to the overall student experience in higher education, from
students’ entry into university to exit from the university. The University of South Australia has developed
and implemented various strategies to respond to the needs of international students studying business
degrees. The needs identified relate to international students’ feeling part of the university community,
level of interaction with other…

Samantha Thompson

Abstract:  The goal for all institutions is to look at ways to develop integration and interaction as soon as
a student is engaged at the offer stage. The Course guides are colourful the resources of
reading materials are a plenty. However, in many cases the majority of students that we are
trying to connect with have English as a second language. So with the plethora of
information we send…

Cathy Saenger

Abstract: Being a mentor to International Students in the Faculty of Business and Computing at a polytechnic in New Zealand, the author has experienced the trials and tribulations of International Students first hand. They begin fresh faced with many expectations, but very soon find that things are not as easy as expected. Some graduates have indicated that they have found it nearly impossible to find jobs and that they are not…

Paul Stock, Janeen Mills, Terry McGrath

Abstract:  An important feature for universities and other tertiary providers. The value of sponsoring pre preparation
programmes to assist international graduates in their transition from study to work and re-entry to home or
other new environments is of inestimable value to the education institution and to its students. The good
will generated and the connectiveness for a long term alumni generated adds greatly to the esteem…

Hedley Reberger, Merlin Luck

Abstract: The IES MAP (Model Assessment Practice) for Study Abroad was created in response to the growing need for more effective program development and assessment in international education. The IES MAP focuses on four key areas: the student learning environment; student learning and the development of intercultural competence; resources for academic and student support; and program administration and development. Whilst the development of students’ intellectual abilities is the foremost concern of…

Peter Kell, Virginie Schmelitschek, Anne Maree Smith and Gillian Vogl

ABSTRACT:  This paper reports on a community action project that was developed by a
community committee to assist international students to feel more welcome in
Wollongong. Research with international students carried out since 2005 by Peter
Kell and Gillian Vogl found that international students who were well connected to
their communities experienced greater well being and performed better
academically. In…

Mary Ann Seow, Nimi Ashok

Abstract: A critical incident has been identified as any situation involving injury and hospitalisation, trauma and death. ISANA has been helpful in developing guidelines for international student advisers to support the student, their family and friends on behalf of the education provider in an efficient and compassionate manner. When critical incidents coalesce and escalate to include students from other education providers, the modus operandi for…

Rachel Baron and Rodney Carr

Abstract: Student peer mentor programs are recognised as a valid component of a multi-faceted strategy to
improve student engagement within higher education. This paper reports some preliminary results
from research investigating how such programs help support diverse student needs in a multicultural
environment.
Our results are from a study of a pilot postgraduate student peer mentoring program set up to support
new students in the…

Greg Calvert

Abstract:  The paper draws on research of 110 international fee-paying students studying Science and Engineering courses in the Schools, Vocational Education and Training, and Higher Education sectors in nine institutions in five Australian states and territories. The research identified that 68 percent of the sample had not had career advice before coming to Australia. This has implications for students’ understandings of Australian education and training, especially entry procedures into…

Parvinder Kaur Hukam Singh, Thavamalar Thuraisingam

Abstract: This study sets out to capture the essence of the socio-cultural and academic lived experiences of international students in a private higher education institution as the phenomenon of adjustment has neither been studied extensively nor qualitatively in the South East Asian setting. The narrations of 12 international students from four countries; Nigeria, Korea, India and Indonesia were gathered through prolonged conversational interviews. The interviews were then transcribed verbatim…

Cherry Grimwade

Melbourne has one of the highest proportion of international students of any municipal area in the
world. The City of Melbourne recognises and values the presence and contribution that international
students make to the social and cultural life of Melbourne. In 2006, there were over 21,000
international students who were living and/or studying in the municipality and this figure has
continued to grow. The increasing presence of international students…

Pasfield, A., Taylor, K., Harris, T.

Abstract: Recognising the numerous benefits of an overseas study experience, the Australian Government encourages young Australians to immerse themselves in social and academic cultures of other countries by undertaking an international study experience.
Outbound student mobility can: help address skill shortages through improved global skills and knowledge; ensure that
Australia keeps pace with global industry trends and competitiveness; and help to build human capital and capacity…

Negotiating trust and respect: relationships between staff members at La Trobe
University International College and Middle Eastern Students

Usha Rao

Abstract:  This presentation is based on a very small action research project undertaken by the author at
La Trobe University International College (LTUIC) early this year when there were over 200
students from the Middle Eastern countries in ELICOS at LTUIC. The findings were first
presented in May, 2008 at the…

Kazuhiro Kudo

Abstract: This paper presents critical examination of the perceptions of intercultural learning among a group of Japanese undergraduate students who participated in a one-mmonth English as second Language ESL) programme at an Australian university. In contrast to the previous studies that mainly focus on an individual student ’s development of language and intercultural competency, the present study looks at intercultural earning as a discursive practice, and aims to propose a power-minded perspective of…

Professor Colleen Ward

Abstract:   International education is a thriving industry, but relatively little is known about its
consequences for the social integration of international scholars in educational institutions or
the wider community. This paper reviews research on attitudes toward international students
as a key component of intercultural relations and a significant marker of social cohesion. An
organizational framework for the investigation of these attitudes is proposed with threat
mediating the…

Carol Dalglish, Christian Haker, Lynda Lawson, Peter Nelson and Martin Reese

Abstract: Australian universities are welcoming an increasingly diverse range of international students and they are doing this in the context of increasing international competition for these students. It is vital that our institutions are clear about the nature of the learning experience that they are offering students. Not just the content, but the learning processes, and challenges of daily life. University marketing activities…

Amanda J Daly and Justine C Brown

Abstract:  Numerous studies have highlighted that the most pronounced differences between international and domestic students are with classroom participation and intercultural relationships. In Ward’s (2003) report for the NewZealand Ministry of Education, she identified a pressing need for research to evaluate intervention strategies. In response, this study investigated the effect of an intervention program entitled Excellence in Experiential Learning and Leadership (ExcelL) Intercultural Skills Program. While the ExcelL…

Fiona Pakoa

Abstract: While working with AusAID sponsored students in a Queensland university, Melanesian students, as a distinct cohort, appeared to struggle the most with their academic program. Their ability to meet the academic expectations of the university appeared to be constrained, not by ability, but by their inability to cope with the competing academic, cultural and social demands. This research sought to explore the role of Melanesian students’ cultural identity in their academic experiences.

Tryphena Jacqueline Tan and Cecelia Winkelman

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate how stress level, coping styles and personality traits contribute to international students' academic performance. Participants comprised of 100 international students across undergraduate and postgraduate levels from universities in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were aged 18 to 40 years old. Using a single sample survey design, all 100 participants completed a background information sheet, the Coping Skills Inventory, the Social Avoidance Distress…

Kathryn Richardson and Assoc. Prof. Rosalind Hurworth

Abstract: Fitting into a new culture brings many preconceived expectations and uncertainties, particularly for students who are also navigating the complications of adolescence. As adolescents, international students attending secondary schools still require the help and confidence of adults who they respect and with whom they can confide safely. This paper reports some of the findings from a survey and interviews investigating the needs of…